One Book Author and Illustrator Visit McConnellsburg

Did you know that Florence and Wendell Minor, author and illustrator of If You Were a Penguin, visited McConnellsburg yesterday afternoon? Wendell shared his experiences growing up as an artist and illustrating books today.

Their visit was made possible through funding for the Pennsylvania "One Book, Every Young Child" program. Visit http://www.paonebook.org/ website today for more information about the program and activities connected with the featured book.

Chambersburg Spring House Tour

Get your tickets now, while supplies last. For just $20.00 you can tour 6 wonderful houses in the Chambersburg area. Last year, this event sold out at 600 participants. This year tickets are available until we hit that mark.

Our main sponsor is Wolf's Furniture. There is a wonderful raffle connected with the tour with many great prizes. You do not need to go on the tour to purchase your raffle tickets.

Franklin County Public Library Week

Next week, May 17-23, is Franklin County Public Library Week. County Commissioners took action Thursday to proclaim this a special week to celebrate our public libraries.

Fort Loudon is holding Cake Bingo on Wednesday, May 20, at 6:00 p.m. Play all games for a donation of $3.00. Last year this event had a fullhouse, Standing Room Only crowd.

Celebrate your support of libaries by advocating full and fair state funding for PA public libraries for state fiscal year 2009-2010.

The recent PA Senate budget proposal cuts public library subsidy by 50%, equaling about a potential loss in revenue to Franklin County's public libraries of more than $425,000 per year. This is about 1/5 of the libraries' operating budget! The last time we experienced such a state cut, the libraries lost staff members, hours of operation, and customers got many fewer new books and materials and experienced many delays in service. This would be terrible, when more people than ever are taking advantage of public library materials, services, and programs to improve their quality of life, their job skills, and educate their young children.

Take heart! You can make a difference. The budget is not final. Both Governor Rendell and the House of Representatives have a less radical approach to cutting library funding. But please contact your favorite PA politician today in support of fully funded public libraries. Contact information for our local legislators is available elsewhere on the http://www.fclspa.org/ website.

Thank you!

Early Learning Awards

Franklin County Library System earned two Pennsylvania Library Association Early Learning Awards in April. We celebrate this achievement, especially since it was our county's first time to receive the prestigious honor.

Amanda Flagle and Rose Trombetta accepted the award for their 2008 "One Book, Every Young Child" outreach programs with preschools in the area. Bernice Crouse and representatives of our Head Start partnership received the award for our joint program assisting librarians, teachers, caregivers, and parents with meeting the social and emotional needs of preschoolers. Components of this program include a website and blog for those interested in the topic -- blog at http://www.frwholechild.blogspot.com/ , website at http://www.freewebs.com/frwholechild . This has become one of our busiest blogs.

Our winners were photographed with Wendell and Florence Minor, illustrator and author of PA's 2009 One Book, Every Young Child selection, If You Were a Penguin.

Head Start representatives are Terri Monn, Jennifer Rodgers, and Kay Witmer, who designed the Whole Child project with Bernice Crouse at a summer 2008 Governor's Institute.